Students of the University of Florida have felt this impact of the Syrian refugee crisis on a personal level. Many students within the Arab Students' Association have friends and family in Syria that are being put in danger or have already lost their lives due to circumstances on the ground there. Instead of shutting off our borders due to largely unfounded fears of terrorism, we should increase the United States' intake of Syrian refugees and welcome these refugees with love and compassion.

FOUR MILLION children, women, and families have fled from war-torn Syria to ESCAPE violent extremism, NOT to spread it. But right-wing Republicans and some Democrats are being overpowered by fear and bigotry -- not logic, tolerance, and goodwill. They refuse to even consider allowing refugees to enter the United States, and are fast-tracking legislation to slam our doors on those who need refuge most! To these extremists in Congress, facts don’t matter. The facts are that refugees undergo a rigorous screening process that can take up to THREE YEARS, and not one terrorist attack has been committed in the U.S. by a refugee! This is the same dangerous line of thinking that leads to hate crimes and wars. Don't let our leaders toss aside our American values due to panic and paranoia.

PNM is trying to cut us out of the argument that they don't represent the best interests of their consumers. This is because we have stood strong against PNM's burning of coal and nuclear when renewables are available today at less cost. PNM is afraid that we will continue to expose its investment in toxic assets, evasion of the laws meant to protect us and errors that would cost more than a billion dollars of OUR money. Help us hold PNM accountable for refusing to provide clean energy at a reasonable cost.

We have been subjected to this ignorance for too long.

https://www.facebook.com/renatheradical/photos/a.102042363474548.1073741827.102041676807950/184415788570538/?type=3&theater

We want the best for our children and that means standing up for our kids and teachers. We need to retain our amazing teachers and avoid a strike. We need to show the board we are a strong community and we support our teachers. The board and superintendent are more than aware of what they need to do to keep our teachers, it's our turn to stand up and speak out and show them we want the very best for our children and that means keeping the AMAZING teachers in SLZUSD.

Gather support for a CPA proposal.

Females make up about 50% of the United States population, yet the disparities among women in regards to access to healthcare is relatively unknown to the public. In the United States, 33% of women identify as a member of a race or ethnicity other than white. If current trends continue, this number of female minorities could grow to as much as 50% by mid-century. Social factors (i.e., work environments, neighborhoods, housing, early memories, etc.) are suspected to have just as much influence over a person’s overall health as their own personal habits do (i.e., smoking, drinking, diet, etc.). One of the biggest social factors facing women today is the gender wage gap which also affects women’s access to good healthcare coverage. It’s no secret women are grossly underpaid compared to their male counterparts, this statistic is especially apparent in regards to women of color. Usually women of color seek medical attention and services through clinics; whereas white woman usually see private health care providers and doctors. According to the article, Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities Among Women in California, women of color “have worse health outcomes than those of white women…” These health outcomes include: death due to heart disease, cancers such as cervical cancer, as well as higher rate of infant death and other associated deaths at birth. California is considered one of the most diverse states in the U.S., and income and socio-economic class have a great impact on the care that families are able to receive. Women of color tend to have the lowest paying jobs, they face underemployment and unemployment, and they usually have the inferior jobs. Factoring in socioeconomic stressors, and inequalities, these health problems could be connected. High blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity can have a direct connection with poverty. Also, lack of financial stability leads to eating unhealthy foods, which can have consequences to one’s health. According to the Beijing Platform for Action, adopted in 1995, at the Fourth World Conference on Women, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” However, women still tend to have worse health than men. Much of this is a direct result of the lack of available health care services for women, especially minority women. It is known that women utilize health care services more than men do, in part due to the physical health problems that come with being a women (in pregnancies, menstruation cycles, fertility, menopause, etc.). And even with all of this, women are greatly underrepresented in the health care decisions made. The quality, accessibility, and affordability factors within health care all play a part in the inequalities women in general, and of minorities, face on a daily basis throughout their entire lifespan. Women also have a greater risk for a number of serious and deadly conditions such as: diabetes, cancers, obesity and HIV/AIDS. Even though the rate of HIV/AIDS has gone down 21% among black women between 2008 and 2010, 63% of black women are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS (new infections). The rate of new infections for Hispanic is more than quadruple of those women who are not Hispanic. Minority women are also more than twice as likely to have higher infant and pregnancy related mortality rates. Also, black women are more than twice as likely to have a baby die as a white woman. Minority women are also less likely to have important screenings for cancers. This needs to change. Until the majority stands up and fights, this will continue to happen. All women should have access to good health care.

We are currently enrolled in a Race and Ethnic Relations course, taught by Professor Paul Lopez, at California State University, Chico.

We must test all of the things!

We must test all of the things!

The bill for medical marijuana should be passed to help with the many medical conditions including Cancer and AIDs. Medical marijuana is needed to help with the pain of these conditions. Also, it helps with neuropathic pain associated with nerve damage and would be beneficial. Another advantage to passing the bill is that it will help lower marijuana crime rates.